KNICK NOTES
Could Isiah Thomas’ first acquisition be another power forward – one with an assault charge against him that’s left him under house arrest?
Just to show how much differently Isiah Thomas goes about his business than former GM Scott Layden, Thomas admitted that “I would be interested, yeah,” in signing Eddie Griffin, who is a free agent.
The Rockets bought him out after his legal problems.
“Isiah likes guys with a chip on their shoulder,” Toronto GM Glen Grunwald said.
Layden went after Griffin before the February trade deadline, but that was before his assault charges.
*
Thomas huddled with Maciej Lampe to clear the air over his biting remarks two days ago that questioned his “work ethic.”
Credit Thomas for being a communicator and not just spouting off his views in the media.
It’s been strange that Thomas’ harshest comments have been directed at an 18-year-old, and it’s likely he’s trying to motivate him.
Coach Don Chaney said he no longer has a problem with Lampe’s work ethic.
“He’s a guy who should live in a gym for a long time,” Thomas said of Lampe. “He’s got to get better. We don’t have a lot of time to wait for him to get better. This ain’t charity. It’s a business. We all get paid a lot of money to do what we need to do. If we can’t do it, we have to find somebody else.”
Keith Kreiter, Lampe’s agent, attended last night’s game in Miami and possibly meet with Thomas. Kreiter believes Thomas made the critical remarks to “light a fire” under Lampe because he sees vast potential.
Lampe has three guaranteed years at $2 million.
*
Latrell Sprewell knew none of the Knicks would interfere with his James Dolan tirade.
“I find it hard to believe anyone on that team would do anything to me,” Sprewell said. “Most of the players knew the circumstances. They know that none of what I was saying was directed toward them.”